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Developer unveils Abu Dhabi masterplan to breed creativity

Imkan reveals plan for Makers District, an 18-hectare development on Reem Island to include flexible art space

By Staff writer

Tue 18 Apr 2017 02:01 PM

Makers District, an 18-hectare masterplan development on Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, was revealed on Tuesday as a new waterfront community to cultivate creativity through residential, hospitality, commercial and retail space.

The-Artery will sit at the heart of Makers District, and is the first building to be unveiled by Imkan, an Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer.

An innovative flexible art space that will offer makers a place to both create and showcase their work, The-Artery will span 26,000 square metres and is a multi-use building that integrates makers space with a parking garage, a statement said.

Construction on The-Artery is set to start later in 2017 while Makers District is scheduled to be operational by 2020.

Walid El Hindi, CEO of Imkan, said: “Imkan is setting out to create a dynamic, integrated and engaging community that captures the collaborative spirit of the maker movement. This journey begins with The-Artery, which will be a regional creative powerhouse in the heart of Abu Dhabi.”

The developer said it has awarded The-Artery design to Big, an architectural design firm based out of Copenhagen and New York.

Architectural firms MVRDV from Rotterdam and 10 Design from Hong Kong will also be involved in phase 1 of the development, it added in a statement.

El Hindi added: “Imkan is committed to creating soulful places that enrich people’s lives both in the UAE and overseas. As we make progress with the Makers District Abu Dhabi, our intention is to roll out the concept in Egypt, Brazil, Morocco, the UK and Montenegro.”